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FishView Highlights

Two Fish, Blue Fish

Shoreline Habitat

Glass Bottom Boats

Texas Wild Rice

This aquatic vegetation is being restored in the San Marcos River Basin

NRS Otter Rafts

Thanks to Otter for helping us get around the lake.

Meadows Center

Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State

Catfish Hotel

One of the many artesian springs in the lake.

Project Overview

Project Description

San Marcos Springs is the second largest natural cluster of springs in Texas. The springs are located in the city of San Marcos, Texas, about 30 miles southwest of Austin and 46 miles northeast of San Antonio.

The San Marcos Springs is an area of artesian outflow from the Edwards Aquifer. More than 200 springs flow from three large fissures and other smaller openings in the rock. The springs provide most of the water for the San Marcos River, which flows southward from the springs' location.
The springs have never been known to stop flowing. The average flow is 152 cfs; the lowest recorded flow of 46 cfs occurred in 1956. (Source: Edwards Aquifer Authority)

Flying FishViews Connects You With Texas History

In 1849, former Republic of Texas vice president Edward Burleson built a dam just downstream from the springs; the resulting lake, known as Spring Lake, inundated the springs.

Archaeologists believe that the San Marcos Springs area may be the oldest continually inhabited site in North America. Excavations at this location uncovered Paleo Indian artifacts dating back as much as 12,000 years. The Tonkawa farmed this area more than 800 years ago; they called the springs Canocanayesatetlo meaning warm water, a reference to the springs' relatively warm 72 F (22 C) year round temperature.(Source: San Marcos Springs Wikipedia)

San Marcos Springs is home to several endangered species, including the Fountain darter, the Texas Blind Salamander, the San Marcos Salamander, the San Marcos Gambusia, and Texas Wild Rice. (Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife)

Looking to the future, F2V intends to work with Spring Lake stakeholders to assist in education and monitoring and to extend the project further downstream mapping the Guadaloupe River, eventually capturing the entire 260 miles, from source to sea.